SOCAR mulls wind turbines to power Caspian rigs
Azeri oil company SOCAR has entered a cooperation agreement with French services group Technip Energies, under which the pair will look at potentially building floating wind turbines to power rigs in the Azeri Caspian Sea.
Most upstream activities in the Caspian Sea are currently powered with gas-fired generators, although using wind energy would help reduce SOCAR's emissions. If proceeded with, the project would establish the first offshore wind farm in Azerbaijan.
|
Advertisement: The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC) NGC’s HSSE strategy is reflective and supportive of the organisational vision to become a leader in the global energy business. |
"The energy efficiency is in focus of many energy companies and is an important part of SOCAR's strategic plans," company president Rovnag Abdullayev commented on July 15. "In line with the development trends of technology, we are already entering this area. Our goal is to reduce operating costs, increase energy efficiency and ensure the sustainability of operations at SOCAR."
SOCAR delivers oil and gas primarily to markets in Europe. It has a 16.7% share in the BP-operated Shah Deniz field, which delivers gas to Georgia, Turkey and southeast Europe. The company's potential foray into offshore wind comes as investors and customers increase pressure on gas companies to reduce the emissions that come from the production of their supplies.
SOCAR and its partners in the consortium operating the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), which carries gas from Shah Deniz through Greece and Albania and into Italy, are undertaking a market test this month to deciding whether to expand the route's flow capacity.